JAMB pays CBT centres N1.57bn for 2026 UTME registration
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has remitted a total of ₦1,570,671,200 to Computer-Based Test centres that participated in the registration exercise for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The payment, according to the examination body, represents the ₦700 registration service charge collected on behalf of CBT centres during the nationwide UTME registration exercise.
In a statement released through its Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board said the remittance forms part of its commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of UTME registration processes.
According to JAMB, the payment system ensures that accredited CBT centres are compensated fairly while preventing candidates from being subjected to unofficial or exploitative charges during registration, JAMB pays CBT centres N1.57bn for 2026 UTME registration.
Payment Structure Explained
The UTME registration process involves several components, including the purchase of the electronic Personal Identification Number (e-PIN) that allows candidates to complete their registration.
Under the current framework, JAMB collects the ₦700 registration fee meant for CBT centres alongside the e-PIN payment made by candidates.
The board then transfers the accumulated service charges directly to accredited centres across the country.
This arrangement has led to the remittance of ₦1.57 billion to CBT centres involved in the 2026 UTME registration exercise.
JAMB explained that the payment system is executed through periodic remittances, allowing centres to receive funds in a structured and transparent manner.
The board added that the initiative has strengthened confidence in the UTME registration process by ensuring that service charges are centrally controlled and properly accounted for.
Cashless Registration System
Officials say the payment framework is also part of JAMB’s broader strategy to implement a fully cashless UTME registration process.
Under the system, candidates purchase their e-PINs through approved financial channels and complete registration at accredited CBT centres without making additional payments directly to operators.
According to the board, the policy has significantly reduced cases of exploitation where candidates were previously forced to pay extra fees at registration centres.
“This initiative has significantly curtailed abuses and the exploitation of candidates through the imposition of unauthorized charges,” the board said.
The system has also encouraged greater compliance among CBT centres, many of which are privately owned institutions providing technical support for the UTME registration process, JAMB pays CBT centres N1.57bn for 2026 UTME registration.
https://ogelenews.ng/jamb-pays-cbt-centres-n1-57bn-2026-utme-registration
“No View, No Pay” Monitoring Policy
To ensure transparency and compliance among participating centres, JAMB introduced a monitoring policy known as “No View, No Pay.”
Under the policy, payments to CBT centres are made only after the board verifies that candidates registered by the centres are correctly captured in the official UTME registration system, JAMB pays CBT centres N1.57bn for 2026 UTME registration.
The verification process allows the board to detect irregularities such as:
- fictitious candidate registrations
- duplicate records
- manipulation of registration data
JAMB officials say the policy has helped to strengthen oversight of the registration process while ensuring that payments reflect legitimate services rendered by accredited centres.
Scale of the UTME Registration System
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination remains Nigeria’s most widely taken entrance examination for tertiary education.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of candidates across the country register for the examination through approved CBT centres.
The UTME determines eligibility for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.
To support this process, JAMB accredits hundreds of CBT centres across Nigeria.
For the 2026 examination cycle, the board conducted a nationwide accreditation exercise to verify the suitability of centres before allowing them to participate in registration and examination activities, JAMB pays CBT centres N1.57bn for 2026 UTME registration.
2026 UTME Registration Timeline
The 2026 UTME registration exercise officially closed on February 28, after several weeks of nationwide registration.
Candidates who successfully completed registration are expected to sit for the UTME examination between April 16 and April 25, 2026, according to JAMB’s schedule.
Meanwhile, registration for the Direct Entry programme began on March 2 and is expected to continue until April 25.
Direct Entry allows candidates who already possess advanced qualifications such as diplomas or A-level certificates to apply for admission directly into higher levels of tertiary institutions, JAMB pays CBT centres N1.57bn for 2026 UTME registration.
Ensuring Transparency in Nigeria’s Largest Examination
Education analysts say JAMB’s decision to remit over ₦1.57 billion to CBT centres reflects the massive logistical scale of the UTME registration process.
Managing the registration of millions of candidates across hundreds of centres requires careful coordination between JAMB, private service providers, and regulatory authorities.
The board’s emphasis on a centralised payment structure and digital monitoring system is designed to minimise malpractice and strengthen trust in the examination process.
For candidates preparing for the 2026 UTME, the development also reinforces JAMB’s message that registration charges remain standardised and that candidates should not pay unofficial fees at registration centres.
As the UTME examination period approaches, JAMB says it will continue monitoring accredited CBT centres to ensure compliance with its operational guidelines and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.
https://punchng.com/jamb-pays-cbt-centres-n1-57bn-for-2026-utme-registration
JAMB pays CBT centres N1.57bn for 2026 UTME registration
